Alexandria/Mount Vernon Art Dec. 6-13

The Torpedo Factory Art Center, 105 N. Union St., is hosting its annual Holiday Food Drive through Dec. 31. Bring items to the donation box inside the front doors of the art center. Items needed include rice, beans, tomato sauce, pasta, canned meat and soup, cereal and more. Gift certificates for local grocery stores are also welcome. Cash donations may be made directly to UCM. You may also bring donations to UCM at 7511 Fordson Road. For more information visit www.ucmagency.org.

New and Upcoming Exhibits

Art Whino presents the solo show of Justin Lovato and Art Whino’s collaboration featuring 20 new artists through Jan. 6. Visit www.artwhino.com or 703-462-4135 for more on the exhibit.

See the Springfield Art Guild Art Show through Dec. 15 at Godwin House, 4800 Fillmore Ave. All artwork is for sale. Free. Browse through oil, watercolor, photography and more. 703-824-1125.

Multiple Exposures Gallery presents "New Members’ Show: New Visions" through Jan. 7 at the Torpedo Factory, 105 N. Union St. See photography from four new members. Free. Visit www.torpedofactory.org or 703-683-2205.

Gallery West presents "Small Works and Holiday Show and Silent Auction" through Dec. 24 at 1213 King St. Features a variety of art work by members in every size. Silent auction ends Dec. 8. Visit www.gallery-west.com or call 703-549-6006.

Scope Gallery Studio 19, 105 N. Union St., presents "Art for the Holidays" through Dec. 31. Purchase a variety of artwork by one of the members. Free. Visit www.torpedofactory.org or 703-548-6288.

"Inspired By the Garden," the Botanical Art Society of the National Capital Region's Annual Juried Exhibition, is being held at Green Spring Gardens Horticultural Center in Alexandria through Dec. 28. Free. In addition to original works, botanical prints and notecards are available for purchase. Visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/gsgp or 703-642-5173.

The City of Alexandria Commission for the Arts will sponsor a new gallery exhibition at the Beatley Central Library, 5005 Duke St., through Dec. 31. The exhibition features work by painter Marian Van Landingham and sculptor Mirella Monti Belshé. To request a reasonable accommodation or to request materials in an alternative format, call Cheryl Anne Colton at 703-838-6348 (TTY 703.838.4902) or e-mail at cherylanne.colton@alexandriava.gov.

The Alexandria Black History Museum presents "God Has Made a Way in Leesburg" photography exhibit through Dec. 31 at the museum, 902 Wythe St. See images by Big Al Carter, which showcases his family members and their community in Leesburg during the 1970s. Free. Visit www.alexblackhistory.org or 703-836-4356.

"Salon Eight Presents: an Exhibition of Painting," a new art exhibit featuring landscapes, still life's and an array of botanical subjects will be on display at the American Horticultural Society's River Farm, 7931 East Boulevard Drive, through Jan. 4. The show includes work by eight locally-known artists, working in different media, who share in common the artist's passion for interpreting personal perceptions through expressive choice of color, line, form, composition, and perspective. For information, contact Trish Gibson, Events Manager at River Farm 703-768-5700, ext 1114.

New exhibitions showcasing the works of two artists are on display in the galleries at the Dr. Oswald Durant Memorial Center, 1605 Cameron St., and the City Manager’s Gallery, 301 King St. Monotypes and oil on paper by Betsy Anderson will be featured at the City Manager’s Gallery through Jan. 6, 2008. Appointments to view these works can be made during normal business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. until 5 p.m., by calling 703-838-6348. For more information about the artists and about other programs of the Alexandria Commission for the Arts, visit www.alexandriacommissionforthearts.org.

See Civil War drawings by soldier, artist, and musician William Lydston, Jr. through March 1, 2008 at Fort Ward Museum and Historic Site, 4301 W. Braddock Road . William Lydston, Jr. was a professional artist who lied about his age to join the Union army. For more information, call 703-838-4848.